who read papers, or took part in the proceedings, found their most congenial resting-place. Mrs. Crawshay left an excellent impression behind her, even in the hearts of those who are not at all inclined to agree with her scheme. We all fell straightway in love with her sweetness of face, voice, and feelng as expressed in her written and extempore words. You could see she was an enthusiast; see at the same time that she possessed the instincts of a gentle-minded lady. Perhaps most of the ladies and gentlemen in the room at first were inclined not to commit themselves to Mrs. Crawshay's cause, but the character of the opposition raised against her turned the balance in her favour, Mrs. Grey's manner of attack was not fascinating; it was too harsh, I might almost say, bitter; and it was very humiliating to me to hear a gentleman on my right, say to another gentleman (referring to a sneer at Mrs. Crawshay's definition of what constitutes a lady), "That's a merciless backhander; none but a woman dealing with a woman could have done it." Nevertheless, we had to thank Mrs. Grey for raising the most amusing and liveliest of all the discussions. As to Brighton, I am really inclined to agree with that cynical view of the place quoted in Women and Work of the 16th October. The people of Brighton gave the Social Science Association the coldest of shoulders; had they chosen they might have made the Congress successful. They did not choose, and it is useless to disguise the fact that it was a melancholy failure, unless you consider audiences no test whatever of success. The work done was quite as good as that at Glasgow last year; in many respects more valuable. But the scanty and depressed audiences were "something to shudder at, not to see.” Sometimes one is inclined to think that false fire is better than no fire at all. At Brighton there was neither. It was an unwise decision that fixed the meeting at this very charming, but very hollow-hearted town. It was a little far-fetched of one of the London papers to ascribe the failure to the evil influence of George IV,, but it was not just to the Brighton people to expect them to manifest any interest in the Congress beyond that connected with their own pecuniary association with it. The Church Congress last year was simple enough to expect a hearty

welcome from the townspeople, and simple enough to be surprised at the non-fulfilment of its hopes. Now, you cannot expect grapes from thorns nor figs from thistles. Brighton, lovely and lively as it is, is after all but a professional bird of prey that apes the plumage of the Cockney eagle, and is half predatory and half servile. Let us go to Brighton for promenading, rinking, riding, flirting, card-playing, eating, and drinking, lodgings, loungings, and so on; but not for anything so serious as congressional purposes.

The question is whether the managers of the Congress made the best of a bad business. I should say, decidedly not. At the various offices in the Pavilion sleepiness prevailed during the whole of the opening Wednesday, which is generally a scene of incessant bustle. There were constant complaints by aspiring readers of papers against the obstacles thrown in their way by the officials. It would be curious to have a list of the rejected papers. From a very long and intimate acquaintance with the society, I believe that the Brighton failure is due to something more than the unfriendliness of the soil upon which the seed was cast. It is the natural fruit of an unwise policy—the beginning of a famine harvest. I attribute it to the ruthless suppression of voluntary papers. It is nonsense to talk of the Social Science Association as if it were the British Association; to say that great discretion must be exercised by the council lest "crotchets " should be introduced. The Association is nothing if not a home for crotchets; it has no other science. When, therefore, the programme shows a long array of "special questions," cut and dried, and it is very certain that very little more than the last day of Congress will be left for the voluntary papers there is a good deal of irritation and a good deal of withdrawal of support, which, being interpreted, means subscriptions. As an old friend of social science, as it used to be in Lord Brougham's time, I warn the council to repent, and at once turn from the error of their ways. They tell me, moreover though I only give it as a rumour— that the policy so much complained of is intented to shut out the very class by whose assistance the association rose to eminence. What would the society have been but for certain ladies, whose names I need not

mention, who have long since ceased to take any interest in social science work? There was some pleasure in attending the Congresses when we might be sure of finding clever and earnest lady speakers in almost every section. Turn back to the first four or five published "Transactions," and you will see what I mean. The association then coveted the presence of persons who are now directly snubbed, made to feel that they are not valued or required.

The brilliant array of lady speakers who in past times did so much towards building up the popularity of the society were represented at Brighton almost solely by Mrs. Amelia Lewis and Mrs. Grey. The latter apparently came to Brighton to advocate the educational project promoted by a company formed to provide better public schools. It was a noble cause, but some of us had heard Mrs. Grey at Bristol, and her speeches were not novel. Mrs. Lewis, courageously fighting against difficulties, lectured in season and out of season upon questions concerning food and fuel, and I hope won over many converts to her views on domestic reform. Dr. Richardson did for the Brighton what Professor Rolleston did for the Bristol meeting-gave us a relief from the normal level of the proceedings. His model city of health, Hygeia, was a bright picture, exquisitely sketched, and it was immeasurably, from a popular point of view, the best presidential address of the series. But it was dreadful to wander from section to section where the audiences averaged not more than a round score. Even the excursions fell flat, although Mr. T. Brassey, M.P., at Normanhurst, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, at Glynde, dispensed splendid hospitality. Let us hope that we may find amends next year at Liverpool.

Miscellanea.

THE DRAMA -On the 16th ult., Miss Evelyn's play, "A Crown for Love," originally produced at Edinburgh a few years ago, was first performed in London at a Gaiety Matinée. The scene is laid in the reign of Henry VIII, that monarch being the hero, and Anne Boleyn the heroine, and the tragedy closes with her death on Tower Green. There is some good dialogue in the piece; but the interest drags from the want of concentration, the scenes being too numerous and too short. The part of the unhappy Queen was sustained by the author herself, Mr. William Rignold filling that of Henry VIII.; Mr. Ryder was Adam Armour-a "Gospeller," Mr. Charles Harcourt, the Duke of Suffolk, Mr. W. Herbert, Lord Percy, and Mr. de Belleville, Viscount Rochford. With the exception, however, of the king and Queen all the parts are mere sketches. Mr. Rignold was an admirable king, the part being exactly suited both to his person and his style, and Mr. Ryder in the small, and we might add superfluous rôle, of Armour acquitted himself with his usual success. Mr. Harcourt is always good but the Percy of Mr. Herbert was only passable; and he should be reminded that in those days sons doffed their bonnets in the presence of their fathers, and treated them with more reverence than is usual in the ninteenth century. Of Miss Evelyn, as an amateur, we desire to speak with less strictness; she was painstaking and conscientious and did her best with a part beyond her powers. A young amateur, Miss Golier, to whom was entrusted the part of Mary, showed a vivacity and earnestness which the audience were not slow to recognise, and applause, evidently genuine, greeted her at the

fall of the curtain. She has a good stage figure, and a most prepossessing countenance, and should the dramatic profession be her choice will do well. The piece was repeated on the 23rd and 30th of the month.

French correspondents speak highly of Gounod's music to "Polyeucte," in which the composer hopes to secure Madame Patti for the title rôle. The performances of Rossi, in Othello, have been drawing crowds in Paris. This eminent actor differs somewhat in his reading

of the part from Salvini. As he will appear in London at Christmas, English critics will have an opportunity of comparing the two impersonations. He has also appeared in "Hamlet," with marked success. We shall be curious to see how far the "royal Dane" of this Italian will coincide with the English notion of what Hamlet should beespecially in the light of the late splendid pourtrayal of that character at the Lyceum. Rossi is said, however, to give a most striking reading of the part.